21st October 2006, 04:52 PM
I wanna ask my boss this to be sure - but I believe we only use students or others as 'supernumerary to establishment' i.e. to give educational exposure without leaving responsibilty in their hands; and certainly wouldn't fill designated posts with them even if we employed them during a gap year or outside term time. I know we've used a metal detecting club for one project - but that was to do additional work not being charged for and was providing an educational benefit to the club.
Students aren't meant to be a cheap source of labour or a way of doing things to maximum profit. They're meant to be learning. We had a Mexican student turn up as a volunteer digger. He spent all his time when above trench workshadowing people. His idea and all credit to him.
I wonder how many clients of commercial archaeology specify the employment status of postholders in tender docs? I've never seen it - only vague things about the Directors, professional memberships and project managers.
I'm inclined to agree with Troll about UK commercial archaeology being a heritage-removal service. It looks that way often enough. Sadly, the state of the commercial sector in the UK is such that contractors have to maximise their gain on each project to survive. Too many contractors, too little archaeology.
Students aren't meant to be a cheap source of labour or a way of doing things to maximum profit. They're meant to be learning. We had a Mexican student turn up as a volunteer digger. He spent all his time when above trench workshadowing people. His idea and all credit to him.
I wonder how many clients of commercial archaeology specify the employment status of postholders in tender docs? I've never seen it - only vague things about the Directors, professional memberships and project managers.
I'm inclined to agree with Troll about UK commercial archaeology being a heritage-removal service. It looks that way often enough. Sadly, the state of the commercial sector in the UK is such that contractors have to maximise their gain on each project to survive. Too many contractors, too little archaeology.